President Barack Obama is calling for support of local schools and educators in recognition of American Education Week — a seven-day celebration that runs through Saturday.

In a proclamation issued last week, Obama asked Americans to do their part to help “create opportunities for every school and student.” He also emphasized the importance of creating pathways to higher education for all.

College counselors looking to help their students explore international higher education options have an easy-to-use new resource.

NACAC’s Guide to International University Admission — released today — features country profiles and admission how-tos for nine destinations that have proven popular among US students seeking full degrees outside their home country. The publication is being released in conjunction with International Education Week, a joint initiative of the US Department of State and the US Department of Education that runs through Friday.

The number of international students studying at US colleges and universities surpassed 1 million during the 2015-16 academic year, according to data released this week.

The milestone — captured in the most recent Open Doors report — represents a 7 percent increase over the previous year, with international students now accounting for 5 percent of the total student population on American college campuses.

“International students value the quality, diversity, and strong reputation of US institutions and recognize that these institutions will give them opportunities that can help them not only in their education but also in their careers,” said Allan Goodman, president of the Institute of International Education, which published the report.

The friendships freshmen form can influence their academic success and emotional well-being, new research suggests.

Janice McCabe, an associate professor of sociology at Dartmouth College (NH), has mapped out three common patterns students follow when choosing friends.

“Tight-knitters” mesh with a close group of friends who become like family. “Compartmentalizers” spend their time with two to four unrelated clusters of friends. And “samplers” develop one-on-one relationships with individuals who don’t necessarily know one another.

Exercises designed to help teachers empathize with their students may lead to a drop in suspensions, according to a recent study from Stanford University (CA).

Researchers provided professional development to 31 middle school math teachers. Half of the educators were assigned readings that encouraged them to think about the underlying reasons students misbehave in class. The other half read about how technology can enhance learning.

“Students in the group whose teachers received professional development on empathy were half as likely to be suspended over the course of the school year than students whose teachers were in the control group, and the differences remained significant after controlling for race, gender, and other factors,” according to an Ed Week report about the new research.

A recent New York Times story says the social media site — a popular networking tool for professionals — is finding its way into the college admission process.

According to the article, some teens are now creating LinkedIn profiles to supplement the materials they send to colleges. They use the site to create a professional-looking resume and include the link on their admission applications.

Educators in south-central Idaho say the state’s direct college admission initiative is working.

The strategy — which involves sending pre-admission notices to qualified 12th graders — was adopted by the Idaho Board of Education two years ago as a way to boost the number of degree holders in the state.

Under the new initiative, students are sent a letter in the fall of their senior year informing them which state colleges they are pre-qualified to attend. The decisions are based on grades and test scores.

Looking for information about community colleges and tools to advocate on their behalf?

Check out ACCT Now, a new resource that delves into trends and data affecting two-year colleges in the US. The site, which launched this month, is overseen by the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT).

“The site includes original reporting, research, and perspectives from ACCT’s public policy staff and guest authors, as well as of-the-moment legislative updates,” according to an email sent to supporters.